The news that Yu Tianheng and Wu Xing would fight on the arena spread through Heaven Dou Royal Academy like wildfire.
Yu Tianheng had made sure people spread it.
He wanted Wu Xing to make a fool of himself in front of the entire academy, so Dugu Yan could see who was truly worthy of her trust.
He was confident he could do it.
He was twenty years old, with Soul Power at level thirty-nine, a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, and the title of captain of the Heaven Dou Royal Team.
What was Wu Xing, anyway? Some nobody who'd appeared from who knew where, with no ties to the Upper Three Sects or Spirit Hall. What could he possibly use to compete?
Dugu Yan knew Yu Tianheng was stirring up trouble behind the scenes. She nearly burst out laughing.
Did the guy really think he could beat the Group Leader?
He'd be crying soon enough.
Ye Lingling didn't know Wu Xing's background. Seeing the students packed shoulder to shoulder around the arena, she couldn't help asking, "Yan Yan, aren't you worried at all?"
"Worried about what?"
"That Brother Wu Xing might lose to Yu Tianheng?"
Dugu Yan smiled, her face radiant. She even looked at Yu Tianheng with a trace of pity.
"Lingling, don't worry. It wouldn't matter if it were just Yu Tianheng or every one of them together—even if you and I joined in, we still wouldn't be a match for Brother Wu Xing."
Ye Lingling's heart jolted.
The way she looked at Wu Xing changed.
Was he really that powerful?
Yan Yan said even all the Core Disciples together wouldn't be enough to take him on?
Wouldn't that make him at least a Soul King?
No wonder Yan Yan had fallen for him, if he was a Soul King at such a young age.
"Is he a Soul King?" Ye Lingling couldn't help asking.
Dugu Yan shook her head. "No. A few days ago, he was still a level-thirty-nine Soul Elder. I don't know if he's broken through in the last couple of days."
"A level-thirty-nine Soul Elder?"
Ye Lingling was dumbfounded.
How could she say he had the presence of a Soul King or higher when he was only a level-thirty-nine Soul Elder?
Reaching level thirty-nine at his age did make him a genius, but saying he could beat an entire team—who gave her that kind of confidence?
Could this be the legendary case of love making you stupid for three years?
Meanwhile, Wu Xing and Yu Tianheng stepped onto the arena together.
They stopped several dozen meters apart.
Yu Tianheng was about to toss out a few taunts, but Wu Xing spoke first.
"Why not have them all come at me together?"
His tone was as casual as if he were asking what they'd had for lunch.
The words Yu Tianheng had been about to say caught in his throat.
He froze for two seconds, his face turning red.
Who did this guy think he was looking down on?
"Holy crap, who is this guy? He's so full of himself! How dare he look down on Senior Tianheng?"
The students below erupted.
"I think his name's Wu Xing. He only arrived today, and he seems pretty close to Senior Dugu Yan."
"He's that arrogant. Could he be a Soul King?"
"No, I went to the Academic Affairs Office this afternoon and heard a teacher say he's only level thirty-nine."
"Only level thirty-nine, and he dares to be this arrogant?"
"Can't a level-thirty-nine cultivator be arrogant? How many levels are you?"
"Twenty-eight..."
In the crowd, a young man in an ornate brocade robe was surrounded by a group of students.
He was Xue Beng, the most notorious young wastrel at Heaven Dou Academy.
When he heard Wu Xing's words, he first froze, then his eyes widened.
Since when had Heaven Dou Royal Academy produced such a badass? Had anyone even asked his permission?
Even he wouldn't dare speak to Yu Tianheng like that. What made this guy think he could?
"Good. Very good. Since you're asking to die, I'll grant your wish."
Yu Tianheng had still had some reservations, worried Wu Xing might have a trump card. But when he heard the students say Wu Xing was only level thirty-nine, the same as him, he immediately felt like he'd been played.
How humiliating. Utterly humiliating.
He roared as Soul Power burst from his body and released his Martial Soul.
A phantom dragon wreathed in lightning coiled behind him, and three Spirit Rings—yellow, yellow, purple—rose from beneath his feet.
The phantom thunder dragon threw back its head and roared, its voice shaking the arena. Its icy gaze fixed on Wu Xing.
Wu Xing didn't hold back either.
The sooner he settled this, the sooner it would be over.
He released his First Martial Soul as well.
Soul Power coursed through him, and three Spirit Rings—yellow, purple, black—rose from beneath his feet.
"Yellow, purple, black! Oh my god!"
"His second Spirit Ring is already a thousand-year ring. No wonder he's so arrogant!"
"A thousand years is nothing! Look at his third Spirit Ring—it's ten thousand years! That's even more outrageous than Senior Dugu's Fourth Ten Thousand Year Ring!"
"Did he grow up eating Whale Rubber?"
"Maybe! No, I've got to get my parents to buy up all the Whale Rubber they can find. I'm not asking for ten thousand years—five thousand would be great!"
The students below erupted.
But after what Dugu Yan had shown them, it wasn't quite as shocking.
Yu Tianheng's face turned livid.
He hadn't expected Wu Xing's Soul Ring Configuration to be so much better than his.
Damn it, another lucky bastard who'd relied on Whale Rubber.
If he'd taken it from childhood, he'd never have been any worse than Wu Xing.
He thought it, but didn't say it aloud.
His Spirit Rings might be inferior, but he believed his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul was enough to crush Wu Xing.
"Third Soul Skill: Thunder Fury!"
The third Spirit Ring blazed. Lightning engulfed Yu Tianheng, and he entered a frenzied state.
He kicked off the ground and transformed into a streak of lightning, charging straight at Wu Xing.
He was astonishingly fast.
The spectators below held their breath.
Just as Yu Tianheng charged, Wu Xing's First Soul Ring lit up.
He slowly extended his right hand, reaching toward the center of the Spirit Ring.
His fingertips passed through it, as if through a layer of black water. Half his arm vanished from sight.
The students below all widened their eyes.
What was going on?
Weren't Spirit Rings hollow?
Why did his hand passing through one cause something so strange?
Before anyone could react, Wu Xing's arm began to slowly emerge.
Bit by bit.
It appeared from the black ripples.
Once his hand had fully emerged, a weapon with a cold, black metallic sheen appeared in his grip.
It was a weapon no one had ever seen before.
It wasn't a blade or a sword, nor any kind of Soul Tool they knew.
It lay quietly in Wu Xing's palm, pitch-black and glinting coldly.
"What is that?"
"Is it a Martial Soul? Or a Soul Skill?"
"Never seen anything like it."
"I've never even heard of something like that."
The students below buzzed with speculation, but no one could say what it was.
Yu Tianheng had seen it too.
His heart gave a lurch, but his arrow had already left the bow. He couldn't stop now.
Whatever bizarre trick Wu Xing had, it was all useless before the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.
He gritted his teeth, driving all his Soul Power into his Thunder Dragon Claw as he thrust it straight at Wu Xing's chest.
That claw could tear steel apart.
Wu Xing stood perfectly still.
The students below began to panic.
"Is he scared stiff?"
"Probably."
"He was so arrogant just now. Turns out he's all talk?"
Dugu Yan stood below the arena, smiling.
She wasn't worried at all.
She knew exactly what was going to happen next.
Wu Xing raised his hand, aiming the gun at the charging Yu Tianheng.
Everyone thought he was about to unleash some powerful Soul Skill.
But nothing happened.
There was no fluctuation of Soul Power.
No Spirit Ring flashed.
He simply squeezed the trigger.
"Bang—"
A muffled sound.
Not very loud, almost dull.
Yet that single sound silenced everyone in the arena.
A black blur shot from the muzzle, moving too fast for the naked eye to follow.
The air split apart, and a shockwave exploded.
The black blur struck Yu Tianheng's Thunder Dragon Claw dead on.
"Boom!"
Lightning burst in every direction.
The claw that could tear steel apart shattered before the black blur like paper.
The lightning faded, and the claw broke apart.
The black blur didn't slow; it kept going.
"Splurt—"
The sound of flesh tearing.
Yu Tianheng's right arm was pierced through, blood spraying everywhere.
The tremendous impact flung him away like a kite with its string cut. He spun through the air several times before crashing heavily to the ground.
The entire arena fell silent.
No one said a word.
Everyone stared at Yu Tianheng lying on the ground, then at the black weapon in Wu Xing's hand.
One move.
It had taken only one move.
Level thirty-nine against level thirty-nine, Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon against an unknown Martial Soul.
One stood; the other lay sprawled on the ground.
The difference was plain to see.
"Hiss—"
Someone drew in a sharp breath. Then the sound spread through the whole arena.
"What is that thing? Its power is terrifying!"
"His Thunder Dragon Claw was shattered just like that? That's a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Soul Skill!"
"That's got to be the power of a Soul King at the very least, right?"
"Wait, isn't he only level thirty-nine?"
"A level-thirty-nine cultivator can unleash that kind of power? Do you believe that?"
The students below erupted.
Dugu Yan smiled at Ye Lingling. "See? What did I tell you?"
Ye Lingling's mouth hung open. For a long while, she couldn't close it.
The way she looked at Wu Xing had changed completely.
That wasn't some Soul King.
It was a monster who could instantly kill a genius of the same level at just thirty-nine.
A few Core Disciples rushed onto the arena beside Ye Lingling and helped Yu Tianheng to his feet.
A bloody hole had been pierced through Yu Tianheng's right arm. His face had gone pale with pain.
He gritted his teeth and looked at Wu Xing, his expression complicated.
There was anger and unwillingness, but more than anything, disbelief.
He, the heir to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, had been taken down in one move by a nobody.
And in front of a huge crowd.
And after he'd been the one to provoke the fight.
He couldn't have embarrassed himself more.
But what bothered him even more was that he didn't even know what the other guy had used.
Ye Lingling came to her senses and hurried onto the arena. She released her Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul and began treating Yu Tianheng.
The wound healed quickly, but Yu Tianheng's face remained deathly pale.
It wasn't from blood loss.
It was from humiliation.
He pushed away the Core Disciple supporting him and walked over to Wu Xing.
Everyone thought he was about to make some threat.
But Yu Tianheng merely lowered his head and said, "I lost."
Then he turned and left.
He said nothing more.
A loss was a loss. Trying to talk tough would only make him look worse.
Wu Xing watched him go without a word.
He glanced down at the pistol in his hand, momentarily stunned too.
Was it really that powerful?
He knew firearms would be formidable in the Douluo World, but he hadn't expected them to be this strong.
One shot. Same level. Instant kill.
Xue Beng stood below the arena, his mouth open wide enough to fit an egg.
The lackeys beside him were so frightened their legs had gone weak.
"Y-Your Highness, should we still..."
"Still what, you idiot!"
Xue Beng smacked the man on the head.
"Didn't you see Yu Tianheng get taken down in one shot? Do you want me to go up there and get shot?"
The lackey shrank his neck and fell silent.
Xue Beng swallowed and glanced at the black weapon in Wu Xing's hand. Then he quietly edged a few steps backward.
Not someone they could afford to mess with. Not a chance.
If you can't beat them, join them.
The sensible move was to find a chance to get on this guy's good side.
As Yu Tianheng left, the watching students gradually dispersed.
But Wu Xing's name had already spread throughout Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
He had taken down the heir to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon in one move.
His Soul Ring Configuration was yellow, purple, and black.
He carried an unknown black weapon.
Each detail was a hot topic.
Each one had everyone talking.
Dugu Yan pulled Ye Lingling onto the arena and threw her arms around Wu Xing's arm.
"Brother Wu Xing, you're amazing!"
Ye Lingling stood beside them, looking at Wu Xing with a faint blush.
At last, she understood why Dugu Yan had been so excited.
And at last, she realized how foolish she'd been to turn down that invitation.
Wu Xing put away his gun, glanced in the direction Yu Tianheng had gone, and shook his head.
Too weak.
That hadn't even counted as a warm-up.
He turned to Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling and smiled.
"Come on. Let's go back."
Before you continue